Gout is an inflammatory condition that is caused by the deposit of uric acid
crystals in joints (most famously the big toe), as well as other tissues.
Typically, attacks of fierce pain, redness, swelling, and heat punctuate
pain-free intervals.

Medical treatment consists of anti-inflammatory drugs for acute attacks and
of uric acid-lowering drugs for prevention.

Proposed Treatments for Gout

The following herbs and supplements are widely recommended for gout, but as yet they have no reliable scientific support.

Vitamin C

In a
double-blind, placebo-controlled study
of 184 people without gout, use of vitamin C at a daily dose of 500 mg significantly reduced uric acid levels.
7
This suggests, but falls far short of proving, that vitamin C might be helpful for preventing or treating gout.

For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full
Vitamin C
article.

Folate

Folate has been recommended as a preventive treatment for gout for at least 20 years. Some clinicians report that it can be highly effective. However, what little scientific evidence we have on the method is contradictory.
1,2,3
It has been suggested that a contaminant found in folate, pterin-6-aldehyde, may actually be responsible for the positive effects observed by some clinicians.

For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full
Folate
article.

Devil's Claw

The herb devil's claw is sometimes recommended as a pain-relieving treatment for gout based on evidence for its effectiveness in various forms of arthritis.
4
However, it has not been tested in gout.

For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full
Devil's Claw
article.

Cherries

Cherries are also claimed to be helpful for
gout
, based primarily on a single "scientific" study performed in the 1950s.
8
In fact, however, this study was far too poorly designed to prove anything at all, because it did not utilize a
placebo
group. (For information on why a placebo group is essential, see
Why Does This Database Rely on Double-Blind Studies?
) A much more recent study did find some evidence that cherry consumption might lower levels of urate in the blood.
7
Although high levels of urate are associated with gout, we can not conclude that cherries can directly benefit gout based on this trial. Another larger study did assess direct benefits of cherry on gout when the study assessed the risk of recurrent gout attacks in 633 people using cherries or cherry extract two days prior to a gout attack. Participants taking cherries or cherry extract had 35% lower risk of gout attacks than when they did not use cherries or extract. Further, the addition of cherry consumption with allopurinol treatment reduced the risk of gout attacks by 75% when compared to using only one of either treatment.
8
. Both trials did have had some design issues that may reduce reliability.

Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine
(TCHM) has a long historical tradition, although it is not quite as ancient as popularly believed. In China today, TCHM is used alongside conventional pharmaceutical treatment. Considerable attempts have been made to subject TCHM to scientific evaluation however, most of the published Chinese studies on the subject fall far short of current scientific standard, making it impossible to determine true benefits. Chinese herbal medicine is also a unique mix of herbs with potency and makeup that can vary greatly between prescriptions.

A review of 17 randomized trials involving TCHM appears to show promise as a treatment for acute gout attacks. In these trials, TCHM was compared to traditional Western medications (colchicine, allopurinol, colchicine plus allopurinol, diclofenac, or meloxicam) in 1,402 people with acute gout symptoms. TCHM had similar improvements in clinical blood markers of gout as traditional medication but TCHM was associated with fewer side effects. However, all trials in this review had several biases, which affect the reliability of the results.
9

Folk Remedies

Celery juice is a traditional folk remedy for gout that is said to be widely used in Australia.

Herbs and Supplements to Use Only With Caution

Various herbs and supplements may interact adversely with drugs used to treat gout. For more information on these potential risks, see the individual drug article in the
Drug Interactions
section of this database.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.